ASHEBORO — The 48th annual Asheboro Fall Festival has been cancelled. The annual event scheduled for the first weekend of October will not be rescheduled.
According to the Randolph Arts Guild, the sponsor of the event, the decision was made by their board of directors following a meeting with the Randolph County Health Department.
Even though hyper-partisan legislation has dominated Congress this year, I’ve remained focused on identifying ways to support the largest industry in North Carolina: agriculture. As you may know, I grew up on my family’s cattle and chicken farm in Davie County, and I still live there with my wife and children.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many farmers saw a significant decline in their business. As a result, Congress swiftly established the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This important relief program within the CARES Act helped farmers across America who suffered a 5% or greater price decline as a result of COVID-19.
While the program was fairly successful in 2020, I did hear from several farmers in my district who had concerns around CFAP eligibility rules. I had the chance to hold district visits with farmers during the early stages of the pandemic to learn more about some of these issues and how I could assist. I always tell constituents – and especially farmers – to contact my staff or myself directly if they have an issue or need assistance.
That is exactly what happened earlier this year. A broiler breeder farmer in Davie County reached out to my staff regarding an intricate United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) dilemma. Under the first round of CFAP funding, operations like theirs were excluded from being able to apply for federal assistance.
My team moved quickly and set up a meeting with her, representatives from North Carolina Farm Bureau, and other key stakeholders to gather more information about the specific issue at hand. Following that meeting, I was briefed on the issue and led a letter with my colleagues Reps. Patrick McHenry and Dan Bishop, urging USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to include broiler breeders in the second round of CFAP funding.
Several months went by and we did not hear anything substantive from USDA officials. But just last week, USDA issued a public statement clarifying CFAP eligibility rules for livestock and poultry producers. Finally, broiler breeders were ruled eligible to apply for relief and participate in CFAP. While you probably did not see this headline on mainstream media outlets in big cities, it was important to real people back home who I am fortunate to represent.
Fighting for those in farm country could not come at a more important time. I have had the chance to present my constituents’ concerns to many federal officials in D.C. since being elected to Congress back in 2016. While some go to Washington and disregard the folks who put them there, I will never forget how important farmers have been and will continue to be to North Carolina and our economy.
Ted Budd is a Member of Congress representing North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District.
RAMSEUR — Hannah Harper’s vision for a thriving boutique began to come together even during the challenging days of the pandemic.
When she realized that expansion was feasible, she wanted that growth to happen in a place where she’s comfortable.
So downtown Ramseur became the destination for Stella Laine Boutique.
“We just grew so fast and we were looking for something much bigger,” Harper said. “I was trying to bring something like this here.”
A grand opening for the business is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Weatherly Square store.
Harper, 24, began the business online in 2020. Last October, she opened a small store in Trinity.
“It was great just starting out,” she said. “It was kind of a test to see if it’s going to work. We outgrew that space. We wanted something with more foot traffic.”
Now, she has more than four times the amount of space.
For Ramseur, it’s an ideal addition to the business community.
“We have nothing like that in Ramseur,” said JC Parrish, a town commissioner and board member for the Ramseur/Eastern Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce. “It will be something we don’t have here. She has a big following (on social media) and people have really responded well.”
Parrish said recent additions to the downtown include Magnolias on Main 521, which specializes in antiques; Carolina Eclectic, which has antiques, souvenirs and gifts; and Two Brothers Mini Mart, a convenience store.
These businesses follow Vee’s Place Old-Fashioned Bakery.
“It started with the bakery,” Parrish said.
Ramseur mayor Vicki Caudle, owner of Blue Horseshoe Antiques and Collectibles, said attracting more people to shop in the community is vital.
“We do have a lot of energy flowing,” Caudle said. “Our Chamber has been fighting for years and years for people to realize Ramseur has potential. It has been a process.”
There have been other happenings on the local business scene. There’s new ownership of Main St. Hair Company, a downtown business. Elsewhere, Just Save Foods has been purchased by IGA, with that transition expected to take place next month.
Stella Laine Boutique is mostly focused on serving women ages 18-70. Harper said she’s interested in adding men’s hats and T-shirts as a trial.
Harper, a Faith Christian graduate, went to Randolph Community College for an associate’s degree in interior design. While a student, she worked at a small boutique in Asheboro and that gave her a taste of that environment.
She started out making handmade bracelets. Now, the offerings are much more large scale.
“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” Harper said.
Harper said she’s intrigued by the downtown set-up and the possibilities that exist.
“There’s nothing down here like this,” she said. “There’s not a lot of options down here.”
Caudle said she senses that there’s good cooperation among Ramseur businesses. She said the wider array of types of business can only help.
So she likes the idea of Stella Laine Boutique filling a certain niche.
“It’s another opportunity to encourage more people to come to Ramseur for more than 10 minutes,” Caudle said.
ASHEBORO — During the Spring and Fall, the volume of farm equipment appearing on the road increases significantly. In the Fall, farmers are working hard to harvest crops in a narrow window of time with unpredictable weather. They rely on large equipment designed to aid them in these tasks, equipment that is not designed to match the speed of a common automobile on the road. Generally, this equipment will be travelling no more than 30 mph.
Public roads are dangerous with passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles interacting. Adding farm equipment increases accident risks for farmers and for motorists. Studies in N.C. in the 1960s resulted in new laws to protect everyone on our roadways. Those laws include special markings and lighting on slow-moving equipment.
According to the N.C. Farm Bureau, between 2015 and 2019, there were more than 1,000 accidents on N.C. roads involving farm vehicles. Studies show that most farm equipment crashes involve a non-farm vehicle. The Farm Bureau also says that an accident involving a farm vehicle is five-times more likely to result in a fatality than other road accidents.
When a motorist interacts with a farm vehicle on a road, there are several key principles to insure safety. It may seem easier to pass a tractor without slowing down than to follow the slower vehicle. But, sight lines on large equipment are not optimized for high-speed traffic so the operator may not be able to see a passing vehicle. A safer way to pass is to first slow down to give the farmer a chance to be aware that a vehicle is behind them.
Often a tractor will pull over when the driver notices a passenger vehicle. But drivers should not immediately assume that is what they are doing. Larger equipment often needs to make wide turns, so they may veer off to the side of the road just before making the turn. Mistaking this for pulling over could be costly. Left turns are especially dangerous for farm vehicles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common types of collisions involving farm vehicles are side swipes and angle crashes. These crashes typically occur when farm equipment is turning left and another vehicle attempts to pass.
New equipment may come with traffic signals, but older equipment may require the operator to use hand signals. Hill and curves may hide an approaching vehicle in the other lane. A car traveling at 70 mph requires almost 400 feet to stop.
Because of the increased risk of accidents during harvest season, Presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 have declared the third week of September as National Farm Safety and Health Week.
Never maneuver to pass unless you are certain it is safe. Above all, be patient. Everyone involved wants to get to their destination safely and patience goes a long way to make that happen.
Blake Szilvay is a Field Crops and Forestry Agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension, Randolph County Center
Area businesses try to cash in
ASHEBORO – Area businesses have endured countless challenges during the pandemic, but Linda Brown with the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce said there are signs of brighter days.
“Our organization has done OK. We’ve held our own,” said Brown, the group’s president. “We’re planning on holding our regular events this fall.”
Brown said businesses in the region are doing their best under difficult circumstances to make things click.
She was on a recent tour of industries with other area leaders and she noted that some of the companies had to turn down sales opportunities because they can’t meet demand. That’s largely due to a reduced workforce.
“It’s hard to find employees in every sector,” Brown said, something she said has been the theme stemming from many of the Chamber’s members. “Right now, I think that’s the main (issue).”
That even stems to the Chamber. The group has an opening for a membership and events coordinator.
As of last week, that opening had enticed just seven applicants compared to about 200 who applied the last time that job was open. “It’s a lot different atmosphere,” Brown said.
Brown said one of the primary messages from the Chamber is to “remember that local businesses are short of staff, so be kind” to the workers who are out there.
Despite the trouble spots, numbers provided through the Chamber show certain positives. Brown said retail spending in Randolph County was up 7.1 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
She said the reason for that increase might be based on federal stimulus money provided to many residents along with panic buying early in the pandemic.
The Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce lost 111 members from last year, while picking up 45. Regarding the reduction, Brown identified 40 of those coming because of closed businesses and another 35 related to financial concerns (though some might rejoin). Another dozen of the losses came because of mergers and others resulted from Randolph County locations closing.
Yet the NC Rural Center reported that there were 62.5 percent more business startups in Randolph County compared to the previous year, something Brown identified as an encouraging trend.
“A lot of people are trying to find different ways to make a living,” she said.
The local Chamber held a virtual annual meeting in January, but largely resumed many of its normal activities by April. Brown said plenty of autumn events are on the docket.
She said an Oct. 5 gathering to recognize elected officials for their contributions as part of a thank-you session should attract about 100 honorees. The Chamber’s annual retreat is set for Oct. 21-23 at Wrightsville Beach.
Brown, who’s a member of the board for the Asheboro Regional Airport, said there are signs of growth coming for the airport. She said a new hanger will be built to help accommodate about 15 on a waiting list for spots.
“We’re really poised to take off,” she said.
ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Tobacco Research Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021, from 8:30am to noon. Blake Szilvay, County Referendum Chairman, said one polling place has been established in Randolph County at the Randolph County Extension Office located at 1003 S. Fayetteville Street, Asheboro.
The referendum lets tobacco growers vote on whether they desire to continue the self-assessment program that funds research and extension projects at the Tobacco Research Commission housed at NC State University. This program has been in place since 1991, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.
A two-thirds favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support tobacco research and education. The assessment is ten cents per hundred pounds of tobacco produced in North Carolina.
The funds, about $250,000 annually, are collected at buying stations by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and then allocated by the Tobacco Research Commission.
For more information, please call your County Extension Office at: 336-318-6004.
ASHEBORO — Labor Day Weekend is a big weekend for outdoor enthusiasts. The weekend marks a traditional to the summer boating and beach season but kicks off the hunting season with Dove hunting.
Saturday is the first day of dove season. The season opens September 4 and runs through October 2. The bag limit for dove hunters is 15 and shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. According to a release from the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission, no migratory game birds may be taken with the use and aid of bait.
The long-weekend will also see Wildlife Resources officers performing sobriety checkpoints on the water as part of the “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign. This is the 11th year of the campaign which is centered on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
There were 188 boating incidents investigated in 2020 in North Carolina with 29 fatalities. Twenty-four of the incidents were alcohol related, including 8 fatalities. Not wearing a life vest was a contributing factor. Of the 29 fatalities, only 11 were wearing personal flotation devices.
The State Highway Patrol, local police and local sheriff’s offices are also part of the Labor Day enforcement and education campaign.
ASHEBORO — Two restaurants in Asheboro and Burlington received a visit from Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC13) today as “Help Wanted” signs have become an increasingly more prevalent sight across the state.
Budd talked with owners and workers at the Golden Corral in Asheboro and the Biscuitville in Burlington about the ongoing labor shortage and the importance of ending the current federal stay at home unemployment bonus.
“The federal government’s enhanced unemployment payment of $300 extra dollars each week has incentivized workers to stay at home and not get back into the workforce. Essentially, these additional payments constitute a stay at home bonus,” said Budd in a statement. “Worse yet, it forces local restaurants to compete against the federal government for wages. That’s not a fair fight.”
Recently, Asheboro restaurant Dixie III was unable to open due to a worker shortage. The 40-year mainstay has announced it’s closing next week.
Joining Budd were members of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, as well as State Senator Amy Galey (R-Alamance).
Budd’s visit coincides with the report on U.S. Job figures for August, which fell far short of the estimated 750,000 mark, with only 235,000 jobs added for the month.
“The federal government should be on the side of our job-creators, not competing against them,” said Budd. “The best thing we can do for our workers and our economy is to end this backwards incentive and help get folks back into good-paying jobs.”
After serving for decades, Dixie III to close doors
ASHEBORO – On a recent afternoon at Dixie III, Mark Davidson was so busy he had to put off accepting a phone call until he could catch up on a few tasks.
That included making cornbread.
As owner of the long-time Asheboro diner, there have been countless items on Davidson’s to-do lists.
That will suddenly cease this month when the family-owned eatery closes its doors after 39 years at the same location.
“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Davidson said. “We’ve been doing this all our lives. We’re just ready to retire.”
Davidson, 65, said it’s time to step away. His family has been in the local restaurant business for multiple generations, but a break is needed. He said his wife, Krista, and son, John, have been instrumental in the most-recent endeavors.
The last day of operation is set for Sept. 9.
“It’s not about a business closing because we don’t have enough business,” Davidson said shortly after the clamor of another busy lunchtime had died down. “If anything, it’s just the opposite.”
The family has been involved with area restaurants since the 1940s.
The current location on East Dixie Drive is along a busy street in Asheboro, yet in many minds it stands out among the countless choices for those seeking a meal.
Online reviews include a variety of comments through the years. Here’s a typical assessment from one woman: “We love Dixie! My family and I have eaten here for years, dating back to when I was a kid. Their fried okra is the best I’ve ever had.”
The restaurant has specialized in what Davidson and others refer to as “Meat and three” — meaning a main selection plus three side (vegetable) orders.
It’s Southern food. Among the specialties is homemade cobblers.
Most meals cost less than $10.
As word has spread about the upcoming closing, there has been an outpouring of support regarding Dixie III.
“We’ve had a tremendous response from this community,” Davidson said.
Even during the height of the pandemic with indoor dining restrictions, Dixie III maintained a brisk pace of business because of take-out orders, Davidson said. Yet he said that the closing of dining rooms and capacity limits when those re-opened were devastating at times.
The pandemic might be related to other challenges that have been difficult to overcome. One day last week, the restaurant was closed because of what was described as a staff shortage.
Generally, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
When the announcement to close for good this month was made, the family expressed the positives associated with the restaurant.
“First, we want to thank our loyal customers,” the statement said. “We greatly appreciate all the years you have allowed us to serve you and be a part of this wonderful community. We also want to thank our staff — current and past — who have been like family to us and have helped make Dixie III successful for almost 40 years.”
Davidson owns the property. Ideally, he said he’d lease the restaurant to someone interested in operating an eatery in the location.
ASHEBORO — With eight schools currently affected by COVID-19 quarantine protocols due to contact tracing, The Randolph County Board of Education has called a special meeting for Sunday, August 29 at 2pm
In an email to the North State Journal, the county’s largest school system said its leaders would meet at the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium at Randolph Community College, 629 Industrial Park Avenue, Asheboro, for the purpose of discussing the current status of COVID-19 in the Randolph County School System and COVID-19 protocols.
The system said Monday that Southeastern Randolph Middle School, Southwestern Randolph high School, Southwestern Randolph Middle School, Randleman High School, Providence Grove High School, Northeastern Randolph Middle School, Level Cross Elementary School and Grays Chapel Elementary School currently had a staff or student with a reported case of COVID-19 and that other students and staff were quarantine due to close contact.